This year so far has been an absolute racing drive. Can you believe it’s nearly May? Or that this is my first post in April? That we’ve had Easter? That my daughter is nearly finished in her second year at University, that Second Son is nearly finished completely and that I am still alive??? Actually, today, that last one is a real surprise to me. … Continue reading Catching my Breath
What a great title that is: who wouldn’t want a cottage that is both natural and cozy? The subtitle is “100 styling ideas to create a warm and welcoming home” which is just as good. I have already reviewed one of Christiane Bellstedt Myers’ books, the beautiful Scandi Christmas from 2017, and you can read that review here. Somehow, I seem to have missed reviewing … Continue reading Book Friday: The Natural Cozy Cottage by Christiane Bellstedt Myers
I love driving: it’s a very useful skill, and I have been fortunate enough not to be without a car since I passed my test in the first year at college. Since 1987, then. And, for the most part, the cars I’ve had have been well-loved, cared for and kept until really their usefulness is outweighed by the cost of keeping them on the road. … Continue reading Creating Sanctuary: A Mobile Oasis in the Car
It’s been sunny two days in a row now, there’s now a faint glow of gloaming at seven pm hinting at longer evenings to come and I have started to think about… perhaps… summer will really happen this year. I already have a few things booked this year: I’m not naturally a busy person, simply because I don’t usually feel the need to be, so … Continue reading Really Planning Ahead Now… Including My Amazon Pre-orders!
Wednesday was Not A Good Day in my house. My car broke down, just as I was setting off to visit my parents, and instead of taking Mum out for a pot of tea and (perhaps) a slice of lemon drizzle cake, I spent a wet afternoon waiting for the AA to recue me and then, in fear it might conk out again, driving my … Continue reading Book Friday: The Tucci Table by Stanley Tucci and Felicity Blunt
Wednesday was Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent and, for the first time in a few years, I decided to take action for Lent. My relationship to organised religion is a bit mixed: I am a baptised and confirmed Christian, but I struggle with the history and, sometimes, the attitudes of formal religious bodies. I also can’t and don’t condemn many people who choose … Continue reading Creating Sanctuary: Lenten Hygge
Happy International Day of Hygge! 28th February (29th on a leap year) is a day of hygge around the world. And, yes, we can still celebrate and mark hygge even if the whole world outside has gone to pot and lost its mind. Indeed, it is incumbent on us to make sure that hygge goes on and remember that, although there are so many places … Continue reading Happy International Day of Hygge: I hygge because I can.
I’m writing this in advance, on the Tuesday before it goes live on the Friday and the sun is streaming in at my office window. It may be freezing outside but my little glasshouse is trapping the light energy as heat faster than I can imagine. It makes such a big difference to how I feel, seeing the sun like that. And, as always when … Continue reading Book Friday: Cozy White Cottage by Liz Marie Galvan
How to Hygge the British Way 